David Stewart

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address drug driving and, in light of the reported increase of this in England and Wales, what the trend is in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The investigation and prosecution of crime are operational matters for Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service respectively. The Scottish Government fully supports the police, prosecutors and the courts in using their powers to hold…

20 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to the Morayvia project to allow it to move to alternative accommodation.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government supports non-national museums and galleries through Museums Galleries Scotland, the National Development body which supports the museum sector across Scotland through the provision of services and the operation of grant schemes. Museu…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with The Highland Council regarding future financial support for the Corran Ferry.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Ferries Plan (2013 – 2022) indicated that the Scottish Government is willing to assume responsibility for all lifeline ferry services in Scotland, including those operated by local authorities. Any such transfer of responsibility would be subject to Trans…

7 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) inpatients and (b) day case patients have received ophthalmology treatment in the last 12 months, broken down by (i) national total and (ii) NHS board; out of those patients, how many were (a) seen by a consultant within 12 weeks and (B) given treatment within 18 weeks in ea…

Answer · Shona Robison: The information on inpatient and day case ophthalmology waits is provided in the following table. NUMBER OF INPATIENTS AND DAY CASES TREATED (COMPLETED WAITS) AND NUMBERS WHO WAITED 12 WEEKS OR LESS, NUMBER OVER 12 WEEKS AND MEDIAN WAITS IN WEEKS AND DAYS F…

7 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider directing NHS boards to standardise and simplify the way that they respond to Freedom of Information requests on waiting times, so that comparisons between each NHS board can be made in relation to each speciality.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is for individual Scottish public authorities to comply with their statutory obligations under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. One public authority cannot seek to direct how another public authority responds to Freedom of Information reques…

6 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made each year in meeting its target of reducing food waste by 33% by 2025, and what its position is on whether it expects the target to be achieved.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government established a target to reduce food waste by 33% by 2025 earlier this year. In November 2016 we announced that the baseline for the target would be the 1.35m tonnes of food wasted in Scotland in 2013. This is the first time that total …

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has received in each of the last five years, and how much of this SNH allocated to its biodiversity strategy priorities each year.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The funding, in terms of cash Grant-in-Aid, that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has received from the Scottish Government in each of the last five years is set out in the table below. I have asked SNH’s Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide detai…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the review of the revised structure of the governance of the Scottish biodiversity and land use strategy; when the review’s guidance, advisory and delivery support groups will meet; when the revised structure will be adopted, and how it will ensure that the stak…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The governance review of biodiversity and land use was completed but not considered by Ministers before the Scottish Parliament election in May 2016. The review concluded that the previous arrangements should be replaced with arrangements under the Rural Affa…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Natural Heritage is refreshing its corporate plan to cover 2017 to 2022.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are reviewing their Corporate Plan 2015-2018 to ensure alignment with the Scottish Government’s latest Programme for Government and to take account of their budget allocation for 2017-18 when this is confirmed. Separately, SNH …

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which nature conservation projects have been funded through EU-schemes in each of the last five years, broken down by the (a) name of the scheme and (b) contribution Scottish Natural Heritage made toward this.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide further details.

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish Natural Heritage refresh of its corporate plan to cover 2017 to 2022 will cover access to assets in decline and not conservation of these assets.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide further details.

28 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist sites in Scotland that are preparing to apply for licences to operate as spaceports.

28 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review national scenic areas in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are no current plans to review National Scenic Areas in the Highlands and Islands or any other part of Scotland.

25 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that adequate funding is allocated to (a) develop and (b) deploy effective transport measures to tackle air pollution.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport measures to improve Scotland’s air quality are set out in our Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy. Many initiatives are already in place to develop and deploy effective transport measures to tackle air pollution. The Scottish Government is continuing …

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to commission the Met Office to conduct a weather radar network review.

Answer · John Swinney: Over the past two years the Met Office, through the Public Weather Service Customer Group, has made a significant investment in the weather radar network for Scotland, with £1.368 million spent so far. This includes the main upgrade elements to the Hill of Du…

15 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Welsh Government regarding the number of fire incidents in Wales since legislation requiring fire suppression systems to be installed in all new and converted residential accommodation came into force; whether it plans to introduce similar legislation…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Welsh Government regarding the Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011. The Welsh Government has been monitoring the design and installation of fire suppression systems and their was published on 4 Nove…

7 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the High Court ruling in favour of ClientEarth against the UK Government in relation to tackling air pollution, what action it is taking to improve air quality in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is taking forward a range of actions to improve air quality in Scotland, working closely with Transport Scotland, SEPA and other partner organisations. These actions are set out in 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Fu…

7 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the British Heart Foundation and the University of Edinburgh suggesting that there is a correlation between air pollution and cardiovascular disease, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making with the introduction of low-emission zones.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The implementation of low-emission zones is being taken forward as set out in the Programme for Government. The Scottish Government are preparing the National Low Emission Framework to offer guidelines for LEZ implementation, and are engaging with local autho…

7 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to VisitScotland and The Highland Council to encourage tourists to the Highlands and Islands, including by ensuring that the North Coast 500 route is fully maintained.

3 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of mountain hare culling as a management technique for louping ill in red grouse, and what advice is given to land managers in this regard.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government recognises that mountain hares may need to be controlled for land management purposes, but does not support large-scale culls of mountain hares. The advice from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to land managers is that large-scale cul…

3 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent of mountain hare culls and the occurrence of large-scale culls of mountain hare between 1 August 2015 and 31 March 2016.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No such assessment has been made as there is no legal requirement for estates to provide cull return data to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) outside the close season. SNH is working with key stakeholders to improve transparency on the scale and reasons for mo…

3 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to encourage voluntary restraint by estates on large scale culls of mountain hare.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has developed a joint position statement on the subject of hare culling following consultation with key stakeholders representing moorland managers, namely Scottish Land & Estates and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Th…

3 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions it has had with The Highland Council and (b) financial support will be available in relation to the development of Ashaig airfield on Skye to create an operational airport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Highland Council, HITRANS and Transport Scotland have regular discussions on Highlands and Islands air services, including the studies that have been carried out in relation to Skye. We recognise the aspirations of bodies and individuals in the Highlands and …

27 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 16 February 2015, Review of exotic pet trade, whether it will (a) provide an update on the progress of the review and (b) confirm what plans it has for a public consultation on the subject.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The review of the exotic pet trade is part of a wider review of pet welfare, which is a substantial and on-going piece of work. Initial meetings with stakeholders have already been held on exotic pets and breeding and sale of pets and further meetings are pla…

26 Oct 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the Scottish Public Sector Green ICT Strategy.

25 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on Network Rail's plans for safety improvements to the Delny open level crossing in Ross-shire, and what the timescale is for any plans.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Network Rail plans to upgrade Delny Automatic Open Crossing to an Automatic Barrier Crossing in 2017. Network Rail advise that this will not address the increased risk that is likely to arise as a consequence of a potential nearby development, to which they c…

24 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many berths will be provided for trainee (a) ratings and (b) officers on each route of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network, for each year of the current contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04002 on 7 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…

24 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the anticipated (a) passenger carrying and (b) crew capacity for each new ferry scheduled to enter service on Clyde and Hebrides routes during the current contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The two new LNG dual fuel vessels currently under construction are being designed to carry up to 1000 passengers. The number of passengers carried will vary according to the route the vessel is deployed on and time of year, i.e. summer or winter timetables. I…

24 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many berths there will be for trainee (a) ratings and (b) officers on all CalMac Ferries vessels in each year of the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The provision of berths is an operational matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd. CalMac’s successful bid for the new Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract included a commitment to continue to invest in Officer Cadet and Deck and Engine Rating Apprenticeships with…

24 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd on the provision of training berths on each new ferry scheduled to enter service on Clyde and Hebrides routes during the current contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04000 on 7 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…